Didier Drogba: cheat?

(havnt seen another thread on this - maybe didnt look hard enough)

dunno how you feel about this lad - suppose we can all nearly agree that he is overvalued and overpayed and a bit of an over reactor on the pitch.

I just feel that maybe the media frenzy surrounding mourinho and chelsea is now targeting Drogba. Just watching a few interviews today after their game against Man City, and i couldnt help but feel a little sorry for the man. Watching the game i thought the only thing he was guilty of (handball aside) during the game was being a bit of an over exagerator when he was fouled. I suppose he may have earned this extra scrutinising.

You cant deny his effort during a game and it seems as though he plays for the team and not for himself.

Dont get me wrong - i havnt got much time for Chelsea (dont think theyre good for the game), but I have a slight feeling that a bit of a witch hunt is underway!

I'd have to agree with you. I've become a bit fed up of the way Mourinho and Chelsea have been behaving this season. However, I respect Drogba as a player. As you said, he plays for the team, as opposed to Crespo who seems to play for himself.

see wen he was awarded man of the match yesterday over the tannoy....... all the boos from the chelsea fans!

I think Drogba is a good player, but not the best definitley not worth 24 million played well yesterday though

If Drogba wasn't so big he'd be useless. His only ability is to barge other players off the pitch & fall like he shot at the slighest touch. His control of the ball is often quiet shockingly poor.

His physique is more suited to rugby.

Drogba's just another example of Chelsea players doing whatever it takes to win, including cheating, Robben, Wright-Philips, Del Horno and Crespo are also on that list. With that amount of players in one team willing to go to ground at the slightest touch I think we should start pointing the finger at the manager, rather than individual players. Even if he's not telling them to dive, he's certainly condoning it

agree with you there jebus. I reckon the players often reflect their managers attitude and especially in Chelsea's case, it seems as though the players really look up to him.

We shouldnt leave our own Damien Duff out of that list of players!!! He has a real moany streak in him at times!

Well he played the whistle ;last week against Fulham he was caught out , this week he got away with it.

Lets get one thing clear Drogba played the whistle the same as any player would have done.
At leased he was big enough to own up to it when asked.
It is true to say some you get some you dont just a bad deccision by the referee simple as that.
Have you forgotten the hand of god in the world cup
I wonder how many of you enjoyed that occassion,and glad to see England lose to the ARRGIES. just a thought.

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Originally Posted by feo123

see wen he was awarded man of the match yesterday over the tannoy....... all the boos from the chelsea fans!

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Think you'll find that was the Citeh fans, followed it up with the humourous "Only score when your cheating" song. ;)

Drogba, as was discussed on MOTD, which goalscorer will say, I'm sorry don't give a goal, I used my arm? The answer is none. Furthermore, hard though it is to take, and much as "they" think Drogba is a cheat, what we need to realise, is that football is now in the 21st Century, and there's no point having 1970s opinions where players were good honest pros and gave and took the knocks like the men they were. These days, the name of the game is to win, and if a player comes along that dives, handles the ball and generally cheats, it's up to the officials to spot this and take the appropriate action. Unfortunately, the ones now don't have the bottle to give the correct decisions, and think more about their marks and not being criticised by a manager. Knowing SP won't criticise him, but Mourhino would, it's easy to see why they do what they do.

As far as I'm concerned, it's not Drogba we should criticise, but the system that allows him to do what he does. Weak referees who, one minute send someone off because they have no communication skills, and the next are easily intimidated by a bunch of overpaid ponces, "Assistant" referees who simply absolve themselves of all responsibility and completely bottle decisions, and are happy to indicate in and out of play and offside in the correct manner (raise the flag then lower it by bending the elbow into the side before bringing it down again) without actually bringing something to the referee's attention. The assessors have a cushy little number with their boardroom passes and free drinks, so why rock the boat? The FA assume everything is honky dory because the assessor said it was, so what are the TV boys bleating about?

Hats off to Chelsea, their working of the pathetic system currently in place is working wonders. And that's not a sarcastic comment, that's genuine appreciation for a side that are so blatently abusing football, but those in charge either don't see it, won't see it, or are too scared to see it. yanited did it for years as did Pool.

Having seen the second goal I feel I can comment more fairly than the screaming banshees on RTE , inc. Giles who accused us of cheating .!! Fact is Drogba tried to control it with his chest, instead he controlled it with his arm and smashed the ball in...yes it was handball but not the blatant cheating that was made out by the very bitter Giles ...even before the programme began Giles was lambasting the club, whipping the country into a frenzy...where was he when Pedersen of Blackburn blatantly punched the ball into the net earlier in the season which I think turned out to be the winning goal...he was even pictured running away laughing, yet there was no media outcry...if that had been drogba there would have been demands from them to bring back the death penalty!
Thankfully match of the day turned out to be far less hysterical and Lee Dixon as previously stated was surprisingly fair...almost passed out in shock.

As for buying our success , well,
The former Porto manager does not need to have his managerial credentials defended by me. His record speaks for itself. It can be argued that he has been successful with Chelsea solely because of Roman Abramovich's money. That is until his success at Porto is considered and until you take into account the fact that Claudio Ranieri couldn't deliver the Premiership title, despite having access to the same resources.

The random way that Chelsea stumbled upon their riches may rankle with the footballing community, but the worth of Mourinho's achievements cannot be even slightly diminished because of it. Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger's successes were both underpinned by financial superiority over the rest of the Premiership. In footballing terms, tangible success is usually "bought". How that money is generated should not be a contributory factor in judging any manager.

If you are going to pass any judgement on Mourinho the manager, then do so on his managerial record and nothing else. Three league championships, a UEFA Cup, The Champions League and the League Cup in three seasons is undeniable proof that he is a very talented football manager. Judging Jose Mourinho on his public persona is like jailing Anthony Hopkins because he eats people.

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Originally Posted by osgood was good

Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger's successes were both underpinned by financial superiority over the rest of the Premiership. In footballing terms, tangible success is usually "bought". How that money is generated should not be a contributory factor in judging any manager.

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Your having a laugh!! I'll be amazed if you can show one season under Wenger where Arsenal demonstrated anything remotely resembling a 'financial superiority' as you put it, in the premier league. Sure he spent money but at the same time clubs such as Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea (not to mention Newcastle & Man Utd) were spending outragously more money on the likes of Heskey,Rebrov & Sutton to name just a few and I might add have continually spent as much or more money than Arsenal on an annual basis since Wenger's arrival. Poor little Jose himself has spent more in one and a half seasons than Wenger has in ten. To compare the scenario of what Jose faced walking into Chelsea to what Wenger faced back in 1996 and dare I say it even Fergie before that in the 80's is beyond a joke.

I know it's tough being public enemy number one after 50 years of humble existance but c'mon you can't honestly equate these scenario's as similar.


For what it's worth, I've said on many occiasions I'm a fan of Jose the coach and I think he's moulded his team well but to try to ignore the unending financial resources available to him is wrong. I'm more impressed by what he did at Porto than what he did at Chelsea.

Had it not being for a perfect unbeaten season by Arsenal in 2004 (spending less money than Chelsea then too I might add) and a poor showing against Monaco, Ranieri would have won the title for Chelsea (finishing with a points tally that had in the past won it) & a possible European Cup. That is the fine line in football.

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Originally Posted by osgood was good

take into account the fact that Claudio Ranieri couldn't deliver the Premiership title, despite having access to the same resources.

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I don't doubt Mourinho's ability at all but it's hardly fair to say Ranieri got a fair crack of the whip. He had basically 1 season to work with that money and all the time it was an open secret that he was on his way out, it's not easy to deliver within that timescale no matter how much money you have and Jose was fortunate to be able to rely on some of the signings that Ranieri had already made IMO.

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Originally Posted by renovater

Lets get one thing clear Drogba played the whistle the same as any player would have done.
At leased he was big enough to own up to it when asked.

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What was he going to say?
Twas as clear as the rather large nose on his cheating face.
While no club can say they don't have a player that dives, Drogba epitomises all that is wrong in the game.
"Sometimes I dive" is an exact quote from him.
Dixon and Hansen on MOTD disgusted me, no condemnation of blatant cheating. It needs to be cut out.

yeah drogba is one of the worst out there. moany little whinge hole and a cheating baztard. yes the hand of god was enjoyable but at least maradonna had a bit of class and talent about him

Anybody watch the Malaga/Barcelona game over the weekend?

The disallowed Eto goal for me was final confirmation (not that I needed it) that FIFA have to act now and have an official in the stands in front of a screen with all the benefits that come with TV coverage.

It was conclusively proven that it was the arm of a Malaga defender that took the ball off Larsens napper and into the path of Eto who then duly dispatched a perfetly legitimate strike into the Malaga goal.

To make thing's worse the protests of the Malaga players was led by the very individual who was the perpetrator of the crime. Having initially awarded a goal the referee was cajoled into consulting the linesman who incorrectly advised that it was a Barcelona arm that was in contact with the ball, result....NO GOAL!!

For those who think that this potential solution will destroy the natural flow of the game you only have to see how the protests of the Malaga team achieved this in any event.

In summary whilst I do not think it is a feasible solution for every disputed offside or free kick call it is surely the answer to major calls that the officials on the pitch are unable to make.

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Originally Posted by renovater

Lets get one thing clear Drogba played the whistle the same as any player would have done.
At leased he was big enough to own up to it when asked.
It is true to say some you get some you dont just a bad deccision by the referee simple as that.
Have you forgotten the hand of god in the world cup
I wonder how many of you enjoyed that occassion,and glad to see England lose to the ARRGIES. just a thought.

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well if you were watching MOTD2 last night you would have seen a true sports man in Di Rossi for Roma.He scored a goal with his hand.The goal has given but he owned up to the ref and the goal was then disallowed.
Not a hope of Drogba doing this because he is a cheat.He admitted that he dives,and people will say he got is words mixed up but he knew once he said it he shouldnt have so went back on his story when asked again.

On the subject of the ref sending Distin off.....

If a club is operating a multi-ball system, does the ref have to walk off with like eight balls or summat?

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Originally Posted by The Stars

well if you were watching MOTD2 last night you would have seen a true sports man in Di Rossi for Roma.He scored a goal with his hand.The goal has given but he owned up to the ref and the goal was then disallowed.

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I think that the Italian league brought in two-game bans for anyone who was found to have scored with his hand and not owned up, if it was given by the ref at the time. Still a sporting gesture, but it wasn't entirely against his own interests to admit it either.

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Originally Posted by Clifford

In summary whilst I do not think it is a feasible solution for every disputed offside or free kick call it is surely the answer to major calls that the officials on the pitch are unable to make.

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Who decides what's worthy of a TV replay decision and what's not. It just opens up a can of worms where teams will argue it should have been used in such and such a case till we've tv decisions for everything. I hope they never bring it in, but maybe a ref in each half, GAA style umpire behind the goal, is a more feasible solution

jaysus - i can imagine 2 auld lads in white rain coats bumbling over was it a goal or not or did the ball go over the bar or not!!

I'm sure they'd be green coats, maybe even only down to the waist.

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Originally Posted by Roadend

Who decides what's worthy of a TV replay decision and what's not. It just opens up a can of worms where teams will argue it should have been used in such and such a case till we've tv decisions for everything. I hope they never bring it in, but maybe a ref in each half, GAA style umpire behind the goal, is a more feasible solution

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Point taken, but would it be any worse than it is now? Don't think so. It takes a ref five mins to sort out the players as it stands before he gets to do anything so while he's doin that a quick look at the tv by the 4th official wouldn't hurt.

I'd suggest goal incidents for starters only, then the goal for Chels would have been disallowed and Barca's one given very easily and quickly while the arguing was going on anyway.

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Originally Posted by Clifford

Point taken, but would it be any worse than it is now? Don't think so. It takes a ref five mins to sort out the players as it stands before .

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TV replays won't stop players surrounding the ref after a decision though, that's a different kettle of fish altogether.

For the issue of players surrounding the ref - I think that the referees should be told that any player who is not the captain who harrasses him/her should be booked.
Something similar to the rugby where the referess only addresses the captain on the field.

Quick enough players would stop surrounding officials if they knew that they would get a yellow card straight away.

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Originally Posted by marktis

For the issue of players surrounding the ref - I think that the referees should be told that any player who is not the captain who harrasses him/her should be booked.
Something similar to the rugby where the referess only addresses the captain on the field.

Quick enough players would stop surrounding officials if they knew that they would get a yellow card straight away.

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Too much common sense in that post altogether. But apparently even a captain can't have a reasoned chat with them after Saturday's fiasco.

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Originally Posted by Clifford

Too much common sense in that post altogether. But apparently even a captain can't have a reasoned chat with them after Saturday's fiasco.

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Very true :D But Distin was being a little bit cheeky !!!

On the Drogba subject, it will be interesting to see what the FA do regarding his diving comments and the fact that he admitted to cheating.

There is going to be a whole section in the FA dedicated to handling all of the chelsea issues between the disrepute charges and now Drogbas comments :D :D

In fairness to Drogba and his comments on Match of the Day I think Lee Dixon was spot on in saying that a lot of what he 'said' about diving was due to his poorish english and not fully understanding the question, I lock the guy up for that at all.

But as far as the argument that diving is part and parcel of the game and until officials sort it out we should just learn to accept it, well how anyone can't see that thats a load of ******** is beyond me. Is it acceptable for Robben to act like he has been shot when he is glanced by Reina's glove? No Is it okay to do though because the ref gives Reina a red card, and in doing so helps out Robben's team? No. Is it acceptable for Drogba to intentionally handle the ball so as to help his team beat Man City? Nope. Is it acceptable because the assistant ref doesn't see it and gives the goal? Still no I'm afraid. Anyone, Chelsea fan or otherwise, who thinks its okay is part of the problem with football these days, and hopefully will just go and **** off and watch pro wrestling for themselves if they are okay with such theatrics in organised sport.

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Originally Posted by jebus

In fairness to Drogba and his comments on Match of the Day I think Lee Dixon was spot on in saying that a lot of what he 'said' about diving was due to his poorish english and not fully understanding the question, I lock the guy up for that at all.

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Poor English? Must be contagious.
He said "Sometimes I dive" what part of this sentence did he not mean to say? Seems straight forward enough to me.

So what if he did say it, he dives all the time and it goes unpunished. No referees are being reprimanded for blatantly letting him away with it. They are obviously not applying the laws of the game and that's not his fault. If the FA pursue him for his comments, they'll have to take action against the godawful referees who aren't up to scratch also.

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Originally Posted by The Stars

well if you were watching MOTD2 last night you would have seen a true sports man in Di Rossi for Roma.He scored a goal with his hand.The goal has given but he owned up to the ref and the goal was then disallowed.
Not a hope of Drogba doing this because he is a cheat.He admitted that he dives,and people will say he got is words mixed up but he knew once he said it he shouldnt have so went back on his story when asked again.

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I don't condone anyone that cheats but you would swear it never happened before,
Now lets jog your memory do you e=remember that famous save spurs v man u
When the ball was scooped from behind the line last year and sky sports showed the ball had crossed the line from all angles.
I dont remember name of the keeper, I do no he not at the club think he with Westham.
point is he wont be the first or the last.
Untill refs get there act together I am afraid its going to continue which is sad like every thing in football this is a 7 day wonder it will be something else next week.
what ya views on the hand of god (maradona)

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Originally Posted by marktis

Very true :D But Distin was being a little bit cheeky !!!

On the Drogba subject, it will be interesting to see what the FA do regarding his diving comments and the fact that he admitted to cheating.

There is going to be a whole section in the FA dedicated to handling all of the chelsea issues between the disrepute charges and now Drogbas comments :D :D

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Distin asked Styles his question first BEFORE styles asked for the ball.

By then demanding the ball instead, he was refusing to answer a question which Distin as captain was entitled to. He thereby deliberately provoked that situation and should be disciplined in the same way as a player would be for petulance.

Drogba - a cheat?

You seriously need the above to be debated....?:eek:

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Originally Posted by renovater

I don't condone anyone that cheats but you would swear it never happened before,
Now lets jog your memory do you e=remember that famous save spurs v man u
When the ball was scooped from behind the line last year and sky sports showed the ball had crossed the line from all angles.
I dont remember name of the keeper, I do no he not at the club think he with Westham.
point is he wont be the first or the last.
Untill refs get there act together I am afraid its going to continue which is sad like every thing in football this is a 7 day wonder it will be something else next week.
what ya views on the hand of god (maradona)

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I can't see how you can say Roy Carroll is a cheat in relation to that incident. It was his blunder that allowed the ball to cross the line. It wasn't as if he cheated in order to score for United.

As far as Drogba is concerned it seems to me he only cheats when he plays for Chelsea. Now I didn't see every game he played for the Ivory Coast in the African Nations Cup this year but I can't recall him carrying on like he does for Chelsea. Seems to me like it's win at all costs for Mourinho no matter whether you play by the rules or not. The FA will have to act on Drogba's comments no doubt. A player can't say he cheats and then expect to get away with it. If they can punish Gary Neville for a goal celebration then they must sort out Drogba too.

His physique is more suited to rugby.[/QUOTE] Posted by Pete

Hope that you're not serious by saying this ?
Drogba would be a shame for the game! He wouldn't survive for 5 minutes on a rugby pitch. As for the rest of your quote, I totally agree with you...

T.V replays would ruin the game big time. You need a bit of controversy, otherwise the game would become a less interesting.
On the Drogba thing, yes it was a blatent handball and should have been disallowed, but last week against Fulham, his handball goal should not have been given as a foul as there was no way the ref or lino could have seen through him, therefore they didn't witness the foul at all. These things even themselves out.

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Originally Posted by Kerry Blue

I can't see how you can say Roy Carroll is a cheat in relation to that incident. It was his blunder that allowed the ball to cross the line. It wasn't as if he cheated in order to score for United.

As far as Drogba is concerned it seems to me he only cheats when he plays for Chelsea. Now I didn't see every game he played for the Ivory Coast in the African Nations Cup this year but I can't recall him carrying on like he does for Chelsea. Seems to me like it's win at all costs for Mourinho no matter whether you play by the rules or not. The FA will have to act on Drogba's comments no doubt. A player can't say he cheats and then expect to get away with it. If they can punish Gary Neville for a goal celebration then they must sort out Drogba too.

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But was the outcome not the same mate? A point was gained from Carroll scooping the ball out. I don't expect Carroll to admit to the ref, neither do I expect Drogba to. Sometimes you just get lucky.
On the Ivory Coast thing, he acted in much the same way, over reacting to minimal contact etc.

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Originally Posted by Hulsey

But was the outcome not the same mate? A point was gained from Carroll scooping the ball out. I don't expect Carroll to admit to the ref, neither do I expect Drogba to. Sometimes you just get lucky.
On the Ivory Coast thing, he acted in much the same way, over reacting to minimal contact etc.

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Kerry blue is red all over and blind by the facts
you are right the out come are the same.
but kerry blue must come off the fence and agree he mis led the ref the same as drogba did.
By the way i rather have droggs on my team than having to defend against him
In fairness to droggs you dont here him complainning of all defenders bad tackles that we dont see.
He all round player he covers every blade of grass,all I can say next game go out and get acouple more goals and that will be the end of that. you then become the great droggs and the boo boys will drift away,and fined someone else to pick on.

I must say I'd forgot there is someone worse than the new hand of drog and that's Inzaghi. Saw him tonight and it brought back awful memories of the guy in his prime. Hope Dogbaaaa goes that way as well.

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Originally Posted by Clifford

I must say I'd forgot there is someone worse than the new hand of drog and that's Inzaghi. Saw him tonight and it brought back awful memories of the guy in his prime. Hope Dogbaaaa goes that way as well.

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for moment thought you had small bit of forgiveness.however you will never put a good man down the Droggs